Senate Bill 795 Summary

• Establishes a new definition of "Michigan manual of uniform traffic control devices" to be adopted by the state transportation department and department of state police, replacing references to outdated federal standards.

• Revises speed limit establishment procedures by requiring traffic control orders based on traffic and engineering studies, with speed limits posted at multiples of 5 mph and within 5 mph of the eighty-fifth percentile speed of free-flowing traffic (but not less than the seventy-fifth percentile).

• Modifies school zone speed limit procedures to require engineering and traffic studies rather than superintendent requests, and allows permanent signage with optional louvered or digital message signs to supplement speed limit displays.

• Repeals section 629b (maximum speed rate provisions) and updates references throughout the vehicle code from "pursuant to" to "under" and from "state highway commissioner" to "state transportation department."

• Clarifies towing regulations for pickup trucks, including allowance for pickup trucks with proper fifth wheel assemblies to tow recreational semitrailers with additional trailers under specified weight and length restrictions.